Today, Nebraska Treasurer John Murante announced the winners in the 2023 “Why I Want to Go to College” contest, sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers. The winners will be recognized before the start of the May 21st Omaha Storm Chasers game at Werner Park in Papillion.
“The hard work of these extremely talented individuals at Werner Park is always such a treat. It’s wonderful that we can bring attention to the importance of financial literacy and saving for higher education,” said Treasurer Murante, Trustee of NEST. “Congratulations to these students and I look forward to meeting with them later this month.”
Winners receive contributions to NEST 529 college savings plans, ranging in value from $500 for third place, $1,000 for second place, and $2,000 for first place. Three winners were chosen in each of Nebraska’s three U.S. congressional districts. Three winners from outside Nebraska were also chosen.
Students were asked to reflect in their written entries on the value of education and what they hope to achieve through higher education. Winners of the 2023 contest and their hometowns are listed below:
1st Congressional District – Nebraska
| Julius Bovick, | Papillion |
| Emry Brandon, | Bellevue |
| Leann Braatz, | Lincoln |
2nd Congressional District – Nebraska
| Thomas Michael Molstad, | Omaha |
| Lillian Guenther, | Papillion |
| McKenna Songster, | Springfield |
3rd Congressional District— Nebraska
| Britney Barnard, | Wauneta |
| Ty John Bolli, | Ainsworth |
| Kyron Kleist, | Aurora |
Out of State
| Josh Fratzel, | Shawnee, KS |
| Delaney Messersmith, | Highlands Ranch, CO |
| Autumn Groneberg, | Hugo, MN |
About NEST 529
NEST 529 is a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan and provides four plans to help make saving for college simple and affordable: NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the Bloomwell 529 Education Savings Plan, and the State Farm 529 Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as Program Trustee. Union Bank & Trust Company serves as Program Manager, and all investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council. Families nationwide are saving for college using Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans, which have more than 297,000 accounts, including over 97,000 Nebraskans. Visit NEST529.com and treasurer.nebraska.gov for more information.
About Union Bank & Trust
Founded in 1917 with over 50 years of family ownership, Union Bank & Trust offers complete banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas. It is the third-largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $7.6 billion and trust assets of $43.6 billion as of December 31, 2022. Voters have chosen Union Bank & Trust as Best Bank, Best Customer Service, Best Work Environment, and Best Financial Planner in Lincoln for eleven years running.
Important Legal Information
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and the NEST Direct College Savings Plan Program Disclosure Statement (issuer’s official statement), which should be read carefully before investing. You can lose money by investing in an Investment Option. Each of the Investment Options involves investment risks, which are described in the Program Disclosure Statement.
An investor should consider, before investing, whether the investor’s or beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state’s 529 plan. Investors should consult their tax advisor, attorney, and/or other advisor regarding their specific legal, investment, or tax situation.
The NEST Direct College Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is sponsored by the State of Nebraska, administered by the Nebraska State Treasurer, and the Nebraska Investment Council provides investment oversight. Union Bank and Trust Company serves as Program Manager for the Plan. The Plan offers a series of Investment Options within the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust (the “Trust”), which offers other Investment Options not affiliated with the Plan. The Plan is intended to operate as a qualified tuition program.
Except for any investments made by a Plan participant in the Bank Savings Static Investment Option up to the limit provided by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance, neither the principal contributed to an account, nor earnings thereon, are guaranteed or insured by the State of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Treasurer, the Nebraska Investment Council, the Trust, the Plan, any other state, any agency or instrumentality thereof, Union Bank and Trust Company, the FDIC, or any other entity. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Account owners in the Plan assume all investment risk, including the potential loss of principal.
